"My mansion gaily glitter'd each morning as I

sped

"At earliest blush of sunrise with lightness from my

bed.

"And must I ever now a maniac votaress rave, "Heaven's devoted handmaid, to Cybele a slave, "Her frantic orgies ply, disgraced in nature's plan, "A part of what I was, a maim'd, a barren man ; "And dwell in Ida's caves which snow for ever chills; "And pass my savage life on Phrygia's rugged hills, "Placed with the sylvan stag, the forest-ranging boar? "Oh! now how soon I rue the deed, how bitterly deplore!"

As from her rosy lips these wandering murmurs broke,

They rose to heaven and bore th' unwonted words she spoke:

VOL. II.

Indignantly unyoking her lions on the plain,

And rousing the grim beast that bore the left-hand

rein,

Great Cybele, enraged, her dread injunction told ; And thus to fury waked the tyrant of the fold.

Haste, fierce one, haste away! rush on with glaring

ire;

"With inspiration's rage, with frenzy's goad of fire, "Drive the too-daring youth who would my service fly "Again to seek the gloom of yonder forest high. "Haste: lash thyself to rage till all thy flank be sore: "Let all around re-echo to thine appalling roar: "Toss with thy sinewy neck on high thy glossy mane.” So spake terrific Cybele, and loosed her lion's rein. Gladly the beast awakes his ruthlessness of mind, Bounds, rages, reckless leaves the thicket crush'd behind,

Then swiftly gain'd the beach, wash'd by the foamy

flood,

Where Atys in despair amid the breakers stood,

And springing fiercely forth-the wretch, no longer

brave,

Into the forest plunged, and in a living grave

There pass'd her long devoted life, a priestess and a slave.

Oh great, oh fearful goddess! Oh Cybele divine!
Oh goddess, who hast placed on Dindymus thy

shrine!

Far be from my abode thy sacred frenzy's fire,

Madden more willing votaries, more daring minds

inspire!

THE NUPTIALS OF PELEUS AND THETIS.

WHEN erst the pines, hewn from the towering wood
On Pelion's summit, swam o'er Neptune's flood
Far as the streams of Phasis, and the land
Aetes ruled: what time the daring band,

The chosen strength of all the youth of Greece,
Resolved to plunder Colchos of its fleece,

In their swift vessel braved the salt domain,

And swept with oars of fir its azure plain;

(For them the goddess, whose proud empire frowns

From lofty citadels o'er vassal towns,

Form'd the light chariot that from every blast

Collects its vigour till it flies as fast;

Fix'd to the crooked keel the knitted trees,

And bade them first profane the virgin seas.)

Soon as its beak the turbid billows clove,
And with the wreathing foam the steerage strove ;
Strange forms arose amid the tossing spray,
Sea-Nereids wondering at the monster's way.
For two succeeding suns the gallant crew
(A sight before unknown to human view)
With breasts exposed above the liquid plain
Beheld the naked daughters of the main.
Then Peleus first with love for Thetis burn'd,
Nor Thetis then a mortal bridegroom spurn'd;
Then Jove himself, to whom all nature bows,
Deem'd Peleus worthy a celestial spouse.

Oh! born in that proud day, that age of earth
Most blest, hail, heroes! hail, of heavenly birth!
Hail, mighty bark, that like a mother bore
The living host enwomb'd from shore to shore!
Ye I'll invoke; ye, shall my verse address;
And Peleus, thee, whom glorious spousals bless,